Leaping figure toy



06t- 9, 1951 R. A. MlsKlN ETAL 2,570,584

LEAPING FIGURE TOY Filed Jan. 17 1950 ATTONEY y Patented ct. u9, 1,951

LEAPIN G FIGURE TOY Renold A. Miskin, Clearfield, Utah, and Judson N. Suddarth, Seattle, Wash.; said Suddarth assignor to said Miskin Application January 17, 1950, Serial No. 139,088

6 Claims.

for its principal object the provision of an animal-simulating toy which is susceptible of voliticnal actuation to produce leaping or jumping movements thereof. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective actuating mechanism for such a toy, whereby a lifelike leap clear of the supporting surface may be imparted to it with a minimum of effort, well within the capability of a relatively small child. Furthermore, the construction is such as to tend to prevent tipping over of the toy, either at the beginning or at the conclusion of the movement.

While for purposes of disclosure of the principles of the invention a frog has been chosen for illustration in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, the genus of the animal simulated is not important and the body form may be that of any appropriate member of the animal kingdom.

In the said drawing, in which like reference characters designate llike parts in all the views- Figure 1 is a side elevational view'of a toy constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view, partly broken away and in section, of the toy shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal Vertical sectional viewof the toy, with the parts ybeing shown in the positions they normally occupy when the toy is at rest upon a supporting surface;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the parts in the positions assumed inthe course vof a'leap;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower portion of the actuating cylinder and the parts associated therewith and Fig. 6 is an end View of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the toy there shown comprises a hollow body I having the general conformation and external mark- Y ings of the animal simulated, in this case a frog.

.edly .attached as at I3 the rearward Vend. of an element I4 simulating the lower or tibial portion of a hind leg. As will be clear from Fig. l, the tibial elements I4 normally underlie the femoral elements I2, in engagement with the supporting surface, and the forward ends I5 of the elements I4, which are formed to simulate the hind feet, are disposed adjacent the mid portion of the body.

The several leg elements II, I2 and I4, along with the body I0, may conveniently be constructed of soft rubber or appropriate molded plastic material. `While for the purpose of facilitating manufacture the fore leg elements II and the femoral elements I2 may be formed as members separate from the body, to which they are subsequently cemented 0r otherwise xedly attached,

if convenient the members I0, II and I2 may be molded as an integral unit. When the parts are of soft rubber or like yieldable material, thehinging action between the upper and lower hind leg elements I 2 and I4 may be secured solely through exing or stretching of the material at or adjacent the points I3.

To the lower face of the foot portion I5 of each tibial element I4 there is cemented a pad I6 of sponge rubber or the like. The under faces of these pads frictionally engage the ground or other supporting surface I8 and provide an anti-slipping contact therewith which is of material assistance in securing the desired leaping action through the air, completely clear of the supporting surface. The foot portions I5 are of reduced thickness or otherwise formed to provide ilexibility at I1 along a transverse plane coincident with the rearward edge of the pads I6, whereby a hinging action may take place at this point which permits the pads to remain in at contact with the surface I3 during the initial portion of -a leap and tends to prevent the toy from nosing over forwardly. In some cases the entire tibial elements I4 may be formed of sponge rubber, in which event separate pads I 6 of such material of course need not be used.

Within the cavity or chamber I9 dened by the walls of the body I0 there is mounted a fluid pressure cylinder 20. As will be readily understood from the drawing, the axis of this cylinder is disposed in substantially the plane of the longitudinal axis of the animal and at an inclination of approximately 30 to the vertical when viewed as in Figs. 3 and 4; and the upper end of the cylinder, which is closed, is provided with a port ed boss 2| to which is connec;ed one end'of a flexible tubing 22 which extends through the wall of the body I0 and has its other endV connected to a resilient bulb or equivalent manually operable uid pressure inducing device 22'. The cylinder 2|) is supported within the cavity I9 by means of a transversely extending member 23, conveniently comprising a curved wire, the mid portion of which is soldered, welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the cylinder at 24. The lateral portions of the member 23 extend from the cylinder across the cavity I9 to and interiorly of the fore leg elements Il, in which they may be embedded or otherwise attached. The curved wire` 23, while rigid enough to provide supportfor the cylinder 2B, is at the same time suliiciently yielding to provide a cushioningaction in the fore legs when the toy lands at the conclii'sinof-a Yleap; The said wire also serves to transmit the impelling force to the body, as willpresently-appear.

Mounted in the cylinder 20 is a piston structure 26, carried by one end of a pistonlr'odfZI which is slidably received in a bearing sleeve 2-8 supported at the `open lower end ofthe cylinder bythe crossed Ueshaped wires 29, thev cross bars of which are soldered or welded to the sleeve while their legs are soldered orwelded to the exterior ofthe cylinder wall, as will be clea1` from Figs. and 6.` A helical compression spring 3Q is inL terposed between the pistonzlt and the grid wires 29, and tends to maintain the parts in the posi'- tie'iis" shown in Fig. 3,1 with the-piston in the upper end of the cylinder. Below the bearing sleeve 28 the piston rod 2l'` extends through an aperture 3| formed' in the lower wallv of the body I0, and the lower end of said rod is provided with a' transverse hole whichjournals the mid'portion of a transverse wire 32 extending .beneath the body l@ to' the forward parts ot thehindfoot portions IEIand anti-slippingpads I6 to which the wiieehds are attached.

Theoperation of the toy as thus -far described Will be readily llhd'elstod. With the Simulated animal resting upon the groundoi' otherv supe porting/surface -l 3 as shown in Fig. l, upon manu*- ally squeezing the bulb 22 the 'fluid therein will be compressed and forced through the tube 22 to the upper end vofk the cylinder 2D', above-the `pis- ,.n

ton 26. With the antieslipping, members IBJn engagementwith the'surface I8 and` through the' transverse connecting memberY serving as thrust-taking members or anchorsV for theapiston rod `2l and piston 26 to restrain `movement Tf,

thereof, the increased pressure in the. cylinder above the piston causes axial movementvof the cylinder upwardly and forwardly, which :motion is transmitted Vthrough the supporting. wireor member 23 to the 4body le. Asa result the body is propelled upwardly and forwardly,.with the relative movement between the cylinder` and piston causing the hind leg elements I .to assume the position shown in Figa, at. which time the momentum is such as to cause the entire toy lto 4 time, there Still is substantially no tipping tenda ency. If the bulb be pressed quite slowly so that the build-up of pressure in the cylinder is relatively slow, the hind leg elements I4 may be actuated to the Fig. 4 position without the toy acquiring suihcient momentum to leave the surface I8, and as a result it will merely inch along such surface. Y

The widespread fore legs II,YeXtending well forwardly of the center of gravity, coupled with the fact that the propulsive force is applied to Ythe body in a direction more upwardly than forisy bodily leave the supporting surfaceand followva trajectory which carries it forwardly a footvor more from the starting point infclosesimulation of the leap of a real animal.

Ordinarily the manual pressure iseXerted on the bulb 22 only fmome'ntarily, i..e. the bulb is given aquick squeeze and released, and .upon such release .the :fluid pressurein the' cylinder ZI) .above thepsto'n Z'Sialls tonormalandthe spring `30 returns the parts .to ,theV Fig'. 3': positions by the time theleap is completed. 'A landing under such conditions is effected withzpractically;no

tendency ofthe toy to -tip over; and even if the .bulb is notreleased prior tolandi11g. softhatiithe hind leg velements :I 4 .are -stillv ;extendedat; v.such

wardly, tend to prevent the animal from tipping orfno'sing ovenforwardly whenV the bulb is pressed; andjsincethpai'tsj are so arranged that the centei of g'ravity'lies'-substantially in the plane of Hthelongitudinalfaxis of the toy, and since the propulsive force is applied to the body symmetrically on opposite sides of said plane, there is substantially no tendency of the toy to tip sidewise.

Toys constructed` asiabovie described will Vfunction quite satisfactorily' tolgive life-like .leapsof a footv or more, depending upon the size and weight ofrtheparts. However, theflength of the leap may be materially increasedzby the useof an action delaying device -i'n conjunction with the cylinderfand piston, and onezformfof -such arrdee vicer has; been illustrated in :the present drawing- As here shown, it comprises a U-shapedwire member' disposed at" the lowery end of the Vvcyli inder 2G, with the extremities of its legs soldered or welded asV at36` tothe` cylinderwall, and lits crossbar extending across the .open end of `the cylinder in position to engage a small-'arc off the end V,edge of the piston rod2l when the latter is inthe' position shown in'Figs. 3, 5fand 6. .The restraint thus imposed uponmovement of the cylinder 2),'relativ'eato:thel rodA 21and lpiston. 26 enables thefbuilding up of :some-.pressure `above the piston inV addition to that necessary .to.over' come the action of the .springrSIL and when the desired Abuild-up has been atta-ined the resilience of'. the legs ofv the latchY member-35 permits` the cross bar ofV such member @to be forced upwardly out ofzleng'agement with the .edge ofv :the rodveiid, whereupon the cylinder will ascend with,r some-y thing .of a snap action. As 'above indicated; lthis will -.material1y increase' the 4length of theleap.

In the case of some animals the cylinder-supporting and iforceetra'nsmitting VV'member 2 3 may be attached directly to the. wallsof thebo'dyfadxjacent the cylinder, insteadf .of extendinginto and .being secured tofithefore legs; and if thebody cavity I9 is small 4.enough forsthe -body wallsto directly engage and support the cylinder, `the member 23 `r'nayzbe dispensed v'with for this ,pur-

DOSE.

While one former tnemvention has beeni1lustratedand described, .it willbeobvious' that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction aswell as the precise arrangement of parts `without departing. from .the spirit of @the in;- Vvention; and thereforeifrit is not wished Vto ybe limited tot .the abovev disclosurey except. as maybe -nected fout-y portions having'. antieslipping sur:- faces. friotionally' `engageable .f withy ,a supporting surface .a -uidpressure cylinder mounted withinthe body; Va .piston in :said .cylinder, having a pistonrod-projectingitherefrom; thrust transmitftingconnectionsA between saidfpisto'n .rod and lfout portions; means for intermittently supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder whereby to induce movement thereof and of the body relative to the piston to project the toy through the air, clear of the supporting surface, the hinge connections between said leg elements and foot portions enabling the latter to remain in flat anti-slipping contact with the supporting surface during the initial movements of the body and leg elements; and means for restoring the initial relative positions of the cylinder and piston upon relief of the fluid pressure in the cylinder.

2. A leaping figure toy comprising a hollow animal-simulating body having xedly connected front leg elements and hingedly connected hind leg elements adapted to rest upon a supporting surface; a forwardly inclined fluid pressure cylinder disposed in the cavity of said hollow body; a resilient supporting member attached to said cylinder and extending therefrom into said front leg elements; a piston in said cylinder, having a piston rod extending to the exterior of the body adjacent said hind leg elements; a member extending transversely below the body and connecting the piston rod with said hind leg elements; resilient pads carried by the hind leg elements, having anti-slipping surfaces frictionally engageable with the supporting surface; a resilient bulb connected to the cylinder for intermittently supplying fluid under pressure thereto above the piston, whereby to induce axial movement of the cylinder relative to the piston and thereby bodily propel the toy upwardly and forwardly in a trajectory clear of the supporting surface; and means for restoring the initial relative positions of the cylinder and piston upon relief of the pressure in the cylinder.

3. A leaping figure toy comprising an animalsimulating body adapted to rest upon a supporting surface; a longitudinally inclined fluid pressure cylinder disposed within and connected to said body; a piston in said cylinder, having a piston rod projecting from the latter; thrust-taking members connected to said piston rod and having anti-slipping faces frictionally engageable with said supporting surface; manually operable fluid pressure inducing means connected to the cylinder for intermittently supplying fluid under pressure thereto above the piston, whereby to induce movement of the cylinder and body relative to the piston and thereby bodily project the toy through the air in the direction of the cylinder axis, clear of the supporting surface; an action-delaying device restraining movement of the cylinder until a predetermined pressure is built up therein; and means for restoring the initial relative positions of the cylinder and piston upon relief of the pressure in the cylinder.

4. A leaping figure toy comprising an animalsimulating body adapted to rest upon a supporting surface; a fluid pressure cylinder disposed within and connected to said body, the axis of said cylinder extending in the direction of the intended leap; a piston in the cylinder, having a piston rod projecting from the latter; thrusttaking members connected to said piston rod and having anti-slipping surfaces frictionally engageable with said supporting surface; means connected with the cylinder for intermittently supplying fluid under pressure thereto to one side of the piston, whereby to axially move the cylinder relative to the piston and thereby bodily propel the toy in a trajectory clear of the supporting surface; an action-delaying latch carried by the cylinder and engageable with the piston rod to temporarily restrain movement of the cylinder until a predetermined pressure has been built up therein; and means for restoring the initial relative positions of the cylinder and piston upon relief of the fluid pressure in the cylinder.

5. Ay leaping figure toy adapted to be propelled upwardly from and clear of a supporting surface, said toy comprising an animal-simulating body; a rectilinear cylinder mounted within and connected to said body, the axis of said cylinder being disposed at a substantial angle to the horizontal and extending in the direction of the intended leap; a piston in the cylinder, having a piston rod projecting downwardly from the latter; thrust-taking means connected to said piston rod and disposed to engage the supporting surface; means connected to the cylinder for intermittently creating a pressure differential therein on opposite sides of the piston, whereby to force said thrust-taking means against the supporting surface and through reaction to induce rectilinear movement of the cylinder and body upwardly in the direction of the cylinder axis, thus bodily propelling the toy upwardly clear of said surface; and means for restoring the initial relative positions of the cylinder and piston upon termination of said pressure differential in the cylinder.

6. A leaping figure toy adapted to be propelled upwardly from and clear of a supporting surface, said toy comprising an animal-simulating body; a rectilinear uid pressure cylinder mounted within and having force-transmitting connections with said body, the axis of said cylinder being disposed at a substantial forward and upward angle to the horizontal and extending in the direction of the intended leap; a piston in the cylinder, having a piston rod projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the latter; thrust-taking means connected to the projecting portion of said piston rod and disposed to engage the supporting surface rearwardly of said cylinder and body connections; means connected to the cylinder for intermittently creating a fluid pressure differential therein on opposite sides of the piston, whereby to force said thrust-taking means against the supporting surface and through reaction to induce rectilinear movement of the cylinder and body upwardly in the direction of the cylinder axis, thus bodily propelling the toy in a trajectory clear of said surface; and means for restoring the initial relative positions of the cylinder and piston upon termination of the pressure differential in the cylinder.

RENOLD A. MISKIN. JUDSON N. SUDDARTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 224,375 Alexander Feb. 10, 1880 409,701 Phillips Aug. 27, 1889 950,091 Casteen Feb. 22, 1910 974,267 Hennessy et al Nov. 1, 1910 1,796,157 Moore Mar. l0, 1931 2,088,885 Urbauek Aug. 3, 1937 

